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NUERNBERG MILITARY TRIBUNAL
Volume V · Page 1246

"As SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Dr. Volk does not yet know Flossenbuerg and would like to get to know it, we will * * *."

In the English translation the pronoun "it" appeared as "camp". Although admitting that this was an incorrect translation, the prosecution insisted that the sense of the entire declaration obviously made it mean camp. Mummenthey said that the letter referred "to the visit of the plant of Flossenbuerg of DEST." Defense counsel argues to the same effect, but there is nothing in the letter to bear out this interpretation. On the other hand, the interpretation given the letter by the prosecution is the more logical one. Flossenbuerg is a village of from 1,000 to 1,500 population. There is no reason why Volk would want to make a special trip to see the village itself. The important thing about Flossenbuerg was its concentration camp. The defendant admitted that if they wanted to make the trip to the village of Flossenbuerg it certainly would not be necessary to get the permission of the concentration camp commander to do so. (Tr. p. 5699.)

Mummenthey not only took an active part in the management of DEST but he revealed a lively interest in the concentration camps themselves. The affidavit of Franz Josef Pister, former commander of the Buchenwald concentration camp, contained this item:

"The commander conferences, which took place at intervals of 3 to 4 months, opened on the first day, mostly beginning at 1500 hours, under Pohl's direction, in the WVHA in Berlin: besides the commanders of the main camps, sometimes all the Amtsgruppen chiefs and Amt chiefs, who were concerned with concentration camps were present. To these participants belong: Pohl, Gluecks, Tschentscher, both Loerners, Dr. Volk, the chief physician, Dr. Lolling, Frank-the latter until his assignment as administration chief of the police only-Mummenthey, Opperbeck, Maurer, Sommer and Schmidt-Klevenow.

"The questions which were discussed at these meetings were mostly the following: labor assignment, food rations, clothing, quarters, treatment of the prisoners, nature of punishment and the carrying out of punishments. erection of new outside camps, evacuation of invalids to other camps, questions of troops and guards, particularly-since there was a considerable shortage of guards-training of female wardens and their recruiting. These meetings took place partly in the WVHA in Berlin and partly in the building of Amtsgruppe D in Oranienburg." (Doc. NO-2327, III/110.)

Papers filed 27 July 1948

On 12 July 1948 Dr. Froeschmann, counsel for Karl Mummenthey said (p. 9 of his memorandum)

"As counsel for the defendant Mummenthey, I must, there […fore]

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